Process of fixing nitrogen.



unrrnn snares PATENT oFFioEi.

OTTOKAR SERPEK, 0F PARIS. FRANCE, ASSIGNOR T0 SOCIE'IE GENERALE DES NITRURES, 0F PARIS, FRANCE.

PROCESS OF FIXING NITRQGEN.

No Drawing.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, Orroxnn SERPEK, a subject of the Emperor of Austria-Hunganv, and a. resident of 12 Rue Roquepine, Paris, France, have invented a new and useful Pt ocess-of Fixing Nitrogen, of which the following is a specification.

It is known that when ferro-aluminium is converted into nitrid, (1) the reaction takes place at a relatively low temperature compared with those in use in the manufacture of aluminium nitrid when starting from ores of aluminium, and (2) the reaction is exother ic. This being admitted, the present invention is based upon the following observations :It has been found that the evolution of heat is sufficient to raise the temperature of the mass which has been previously heated to about 1200 C., up to or even beyond 1900 C. Moreover, there has been ascertained the extremely surprising factthat by operating in'the same way with a ferro-aluminium to which has been added a mixture of bauxite and carbon, this. addition, far from hindering the rise of temperature, allows of obtaining temperatures at least as high if not actually higher, that is to say such that a reaction of the nitrogen upon the mixture of bauxite and carbon can take place, and that further there is obtained an improved fixation of nitrogen upon the ferro-aluminiums, even so far to obtain in certain. cases a fixation of nitrogen corresponding to the Whole of the aluminium containe in the mass.

The process of the present invention consists therefore in passing a current of nitrogen over a mixture of form-aluminium,

bauxite, or other aluminous materials and carbon, raised to comparatively low tem peratures.

Example: About 100 kilograms of finely pulverized form-aluminium, containing per cent. of aluminium, are heated to l2)0 l300 in a crucible with 18 kilograms of bauxite and 7 kilograms of carbon. The temperature of the mass rises from 1209 to about 1850 and then falls slowly, re-

maining for five hours above 150G 1.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Application filed December 23. 1913.

Patented Oct. 5, 1915.

Serial No. 808,478.

The process is likewise applicable to the fixation of nitrogen by means of ferro compounds other than form-aluminium, in which compounds the body combined with the iron is capable of fixing nitrogen; this fixation is carried out by adding to these compounds :2 mixture of carbon and the oxid of the element combined with the iron. For example ferro-silicon may be treated with nitrogen in presence 05 silicaand carbon; ferro-boron in presence of boric acid and carbon and so on, the different oxids with the carbon being intimately mixed with the ferro compound or arranged at one or more points in the mass of the same.

There may likewise be obtained complex nitrids by treating a ferro compound to which have been added carbon and an oxid of a body other than that which is combined .with the iron. For example, one may treat It is evident that the process is likewise applicable to the conversion into nitride of complex ferro compounds in presence of mixtures of carbon and of one or more oxids capable of fixing nitrogen.

In the following claims I use the expression alurninous material in a sufiiciently genera? sense to embrace either alumina or substances such as bauxite, kaolin or the like; and the nitrogen may be either pure nitrogen or a gaseous body containing it.

I claim as my invention 1. A process of fixing nitrogen, consisting in subjecting ferro-alurninium to the action of nitrogen in the presence of a mixture of carbon and aluminous material, heating to the temperature oi. fixation of nitrogen on the term-aluminium, and allowing the temperature to rise, by the exothermic reaction, to the temperature of fixation of nitrogen on the aluminium of the aluminous material mixed with carbon.

A. process of fixing nitrogen, consisting in subjecting,ferrcaluminiuzn to the action of nitrogen in the, presence of a mixture of carbon and aluminous material, heating to about 1286" C. and allowing the temperature to rise, by the exothermic reaction of name to this specification, in the presence of the nitrogen on the ferro-aluminium, up to two subscribing witnesses. about 1800-1900 G. a temperature at which OTTOKAR SERPEK. the fixation of nitrogen on the aluminium 5 of the aluminous material mixed with carbon Witnesses:

is produced. HANSON 0. (10x12, In testimony whereof I have signed my LEON PEILLET.

Copies of this iiatent may be obtained for five cents each, by addressing the Commissioner of Patents. Washington, D. 0. 

